Unexpected problem found with historic DeZwaan windmill has Holland seeking financial help

HOLLAND, MI – The historic DeZwaan windmill at Windmill Island Gardens is in the midst of repairs to its observation deck, but additional problems have been discovered in the windmill’s cap that will result in additional costs – money that city officials say they don’t have.

Rotted beams in the cap were recently discovered by a windmill specialist from the Netherlands who had been brought in by the city to work on the observation deck. Assistant City Manager Greg Robinson says the beams have to be repaired, but paying for it is the major issue.

“Frankly, the city does not have the funds to put a significant amount of dollars beyond what we’ve allocated so far into the windmill,” Robinson said. “It’s highly likely we’re going to need some other community contributions to do what we need to do with the windmill.”

The city last August agreed to spend more than $236,000 to hire a Dutch firm to fix DeZwaan’s observation deck, which had been in used since the 250-year-old windmill was brought to Holland in 1965. That was above the original $190,000 amount set aside in Holland’s city budget for the project.

“This is a substantial structure. It takes a lot of work and resources to keep it maintained,” Robinson said.

The deck repair was to have taken place last October, but delays in shipping the wood for the replacement work pushed the project back until this spring. Work on the deck is expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks.

Always one of the most popular venues in Holland during the Tulip Time Festival, the island will open for the season this weekend, two weeks ahead of schedule, to give visitors a chance to get a look at the tulips that have bloomed early because of the recent unseasonably warm weather.

The island will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday and from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. from April 9-20. Admission will be reduced from $7.50 for adults to $5, while young people 5-15 will have their admission cut from $4.50 to $3. The original prices will resume after April 20, according to the city’s Web site.